Day: August 4, 2024

On the fourth anniversary of the devastating Beirut Port explosion, the Lebanese Kataeb Party issued a statement reiterating its call for accountability as the quest for justice remains unfulfilled.

The explosion, which rocked the Lebanese capital in 2020, resulted in widespread destruction, numerous deaths, and a nation still grappling with its aftermath.

“Four years have passed since the Beirut Port explosion, yet justice remains stalled and accountability is missing,” the statement began, highlighting the continued struggle for answers and repercussions.

The Kataeb Party emphasized the significance of this cause, describing it as a national issue that must not be forgotten, even in the face of intimidation, threats, and the inertia of an “absent and hijacked state” alongside a justice system that is “helpless and shackled by obstructions.”

“Every Lebanese patriot must keep this issue alive in their conscience and hearts, no matter how hard those in power – both military and political, as well as judici
al- try to bury it and silence the voices demanding rightful and just conclusions. The principle of punishing the guilty must be upheld, no matter how long it takes, out of respect for the blood of the martyrs, the suffering of their families, as well as the image of a devastated Beirut and a wounded nation,” it added.

The statement paid tribute to Nazar Najarian, the Kataeb’s Secretary-General who died at the party headquarters during the blast, and to comrades Joe Akiki, Joe Andoun, Tony Barmaki, and Randa Elias Rizkallah.

These individuals were remembered as part of a larger procession of martyrs who deserve justice and are still awaiting the truth to be proclaimed.

In a solemn pledge, the Kataeb Party vowed to honor the memory of the fallen martyrs and ensure their sacrifices were not in vain.

“We owe it to the 217 fallen martyrs to keep their memory alive and to ensure their blood was not shed in vain,” the statement declared. “Justice will inevitably prevail, and we shall bear witness to it.

Sourc
e: National News Agency – Lebanon

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said during his reception of Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi, on Sunday evening, that Israel made a mistake by assassinating the head of the political bureau of Hamas, Ismail Haniyeh, stressing that “this step will not go unanswered.”

The Iranian presidency stated that Pezeshkian discussed with Safadi the relations between the two countries and the developments in the region and the world, while the Iranian President expressed his hope to speed up the completion of the talks to resume relations between Iran and Jordan.

Pezeshkian considered the assassination of Ismail Haniyeh by Israel in Tehran as a “big mistake”, indicating that “Iran expects all Islamic countries and countries that demand freedom to condemn such crimes”, noting that “the assassination of Haniyeh while he was a guest in Tehran is a violation of international law and we hope the world will condemn it”.

In another part of the meeting, the Iranian president expressed his hope that the diplomatic n
egotiations on resuming Iranian-Jordanian relations would be faster, noting that “the return of diplomatic relations will also benefit the countries of the region from this constructive friendship”.

Pezeshkian said, “The axis of Iran’s foreign policy and the fourteenth government is to expand and strengthen peace, calm and stability in the region and the world”.

For his part, the Iranian presidency website quoted Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi as saying that “Jordan seeks to resume relations with the Islamic Republic and the joint effort to achieve stability and security”, indicating that “the aggression The Zionist regime’s brutal assault on Gaza has been strongly condemned from the very beginning.”

The Jordanian Foreign Minister also referred to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s efforts to expand the conflict in the region, referring to the assassination of Ismail Haniyeh.

Source: National Iraqi News Agency

The Arab bloc in the Kirkuk Provincial Council confirmed its adherence to its entitlement to the position of Kirkuk Governor, as it is the largest in the council members and has six seats.

In a statement, the bloc thanked Prime Minister, Mohammed Shiaa al-Sudani, who stressed during his meeting with them that no government will be formed in Kirkuk except with the agreement of all its components.

Source: National Iraqi News Agency

Prime Minister Mohammed Shia Al-Sudani stressed: “Stopping the escalation in the region depends on stopping the aggression on Gaza and deterring and curbing Netanyahu and his government.”

The Prime Minister’s Media Office stated in a statement: “Al-Sudani received a phone call today, Sunday, from US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken, during which they discussed the latest developments in regional and international situations, Iraq’s role in supporting international peace and stability, and preventing current events from continuing in the path of escalation.

The Prime Minister stressed to Minister Blinken, according to a statement from his office: “Preventing escalation in the region depends only on stopping the aggression on Gaza, and its expansion to Lebanon, deterring and curbing Netanyahu and his government, preventing the Zionist occupation authorities from attacking the countries of the region, ending its repeated violations of international law and state sovereignty, and its attempts to spread the co
nflict and expand the scope of crises.”

For his part, the US Secretary of State expressed the desire of the United States and the US administration for Iraq to play a role in controlling the situation in the region, and preventing escalation from various parties, in continuation of Iraq’s efforts to support regional stability and regional peace.

Source: National Iraqi News Agency

Advisor to the commander-in-chief of the Iranian Revolutionary Guards, Hussein Taeb, stated today, Sunday, that “the scenario designed to avenge the blood of the head of the political bureau of Hamas, Ismail Haniyeh, is one of the scenarios that cannot be read.”

Taeb explained that “the operation designed to avenge Haniyeh’s blood will be new and surprising,” stressing that ” (Benjamin Netanyahu, Israeli Prime Minister) wants to turn his defeat against “Hamas” into a regional war and bring America into the war,” according to the Iranian News Agency (IRNA).

He added: “Today, the social situation of the Zionist entity is disturbed because they do not know what the Iranian scenario is, and no one is investing in Israel economically, as capital is leaving that region,” continuing: “The era of American hegemony is over and its policies do not constitute a deterrent.

Source: National Iraqi News Agency

Prime Minister Mohammed Shiaa Al-Sudani directed the Service and Engineering Effort Team to increase the pace of work in deprived areas.

A statement from his media office said that Prime Minister Mohammed Shiaa Al-Sudani chaired today, Sunday, the periodic meeting of the Service and Engineering Effort Team, where the projects under implementation, which the team has started for the year 2024, were reviewed.

Al-Sudani listened to a comprehensive presentation of the full status of the completion rates of all projects implemented in all governorates, with regard to paving and furnishing streets and roads, and rehabilitating and maintaining schools and health centers in areas and neighborhoods that need municipal services, which helps in developing the service reality in them.

Al-Sudani stressed, according to the statement, the necessity for the service and engineering effort team to continue with the same enthusiasm, and to increase the pace of work in deprived areas that need urgent services, pointing out th
e basic tasks of the effort, which are represented in providing the basic and urgent services that the citizen needs and cannot be postponed, in addition to completing the stalled municipal service projects that have been stopped for years. He also directed to expedite the purchase of the equipment for the effort team.

Source: National Iraqi News Agency

The British Ambassador to Iraq, Stephen Hitchen, confirmed his government’s full support for the city of Mosul and its reconstruction, especially its university.

The Ambassador said in a press conference that Nineveh province has recovered thanks to its people, and that Mosul in particular is witnessing ongoing reconstruction work today, indicating that his country’s government continues to support the construction of logistical infrastructure to restore the city to its most beautiful state.

He added: “The city of Mosul has greatly recovered, and it enjoys great and clear attention and support from the central government and the international community,” noting that his visit to Nineveh province and Mosul in particular has many meanings and a clear message that Britain supports the province, especially in the field of reconstruction and restoring life to the city of Mosul.

He explained that during his meeting with the Head of the University of Mosul, Qusay Al-Ahmadi, he discussed all the needs that have no
t yet been available in the university, in order to provide the necessary cultural and scientific support to all its colleges and departments, due to its long history and scientific and cultural solidity.

Source: National Iraqi News Agency

Diyala Council held its first session after electing Omar Al-Karwi as its president.

The Director of the Media Department in Diyala Provincial Council, Ali Najm, told the correspondent of the National Iraqi News Agency / NINA / that “the council held its first session at its official headquarters in the center of Baquba, headed by the President of the Council, Omar Al-Karwi, and his deputy, Salem Al-Tamimi, in the presence of 12 members.

He added that ‘during the session, some paragraphs of the internal regulations were amended and voted on in a manner consistent with the current situation. The session also discussed the tasks of the committees that will be formed in the council after voting on them during the next session after the presidency of the council communicates with the members.

Source: National Iraqi News Agency

Diyala Council held its first session after electing Omar Al-Karwi as its president.

The Director of the Media Department in Diyala Provincial Council, Ali Najm, told the correspondent of the National Iraqi News Agency / NINA / that “the council held its first session at its official headquarters in the center of Baquba, headed by the President of the Council, Omar Al-Karwi, and his deputy, Salem Al-Tamimi, in the presence of 12 members.

He added that ‘during the session, some paragraphs of the internal regulations were amended and voted on in a manner consistent with the current situation. The session also discussed the tasks of the committees that will be formed in the council after voting on them during the next session after the presidency of the council communicates with the members.

Source: National Iraqi News Agency